tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1089082204850170942.post1586534657135397380..comments2024-03-21T12:52:08.166+11:00Comments on Freedom and Flourishing: Should schools and universities teach students how to be happy?Winton Bateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07383561940886657594noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1089082204850170942.post-67778255674278230392011-02-10T11:50:03.859+11:002011-02-10T11:50:03.859+11:00I agree with you, TBT. In some respects I am livin...I agree with you, TBT. In some respects I am living proof that it is even possible for mature adults to circumvent the nervous pathways established by conditioned/ neurotic thought/ feeling patterns. I am also living proof of how easy it is to slip back into old ways of thinking.<br /><br />However, I think we need to recognize where other people are coming from when they talk about the difficulty of changing personality. This <a href="http://wintonbates.blogspot.com/2010/10/once-neurotic-always-neurotic.html" rel="nofollow">post</a> on neuroticism might be of interest to you.Winton Bateshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07383561940886657594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1089082204850170942.post-60547124337568300162011-02-10T10:04:23.881+11:002011-02-10T10:04:23.881+11:00So much of our frustration and sense of futility i...So much of our frustration and sense of futility is the result of putting the cart before the horse - doing things to make us happy (which offers momentary relief rather than re-establish our natural/default state of happiness)instead of achieving things *as a result of* the happiness, joy, peace and bliss which we naturally have/are and can tap into if only we would give ourselves that time (and it doesn't have to be years in an ashram or on a secluded mountain top :)). 5 minutes a day would help circumvent the nervous pathways established by conditioned/neurotic thought/feeling patterns while creating new ones :)Thought Bubble Tenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13665668153611429559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1089082204850170942.post-30368395554000947302011-02-09T12:28:39.279+11:002011-02-09T12:28:39.279+11:00TBT: I think you are on the right track - as usual...TBT: I think you are on the right track - as usual :)<br /><br />I think everyone should be encouraged to think a little about the meaning of happiness. It would help just to give people some exposure to different views. <br /><br />Happiness is a positive feeling. The findings of surveys which ask people what they were doing the previous day and how happy they were suggest, not surprisingly, that people are most happy when they are socializing.<br /><br />Happiness is satisfaction with life. The surveys asking people how satisfied they are with life as a whole confirm the importance of relationships and a sense of achievement as well as economic security and health.<br /><br />Then there is the idea that happiness depends on developing our truly human capacities. I think that relates to our ability to reflect on our own lives and our attitudes. As you say, that is about mindfulness and mental observation.Winton Bateshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07383561940886657594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1089082204850170942.post-2173341247549077622011-02-09T11:24:07.594+11:002011-02-09T11:24:07.594+11:00Hi Winton! Thanks for referring me to this post:)....Hi Winton! Thanks for referring me to this post:). It's always useful to know how others are thinking about this subject.<br /><br />If we agree that everything we attempt to do and acquire in life is ultimately because we believe that it will make us happy or happier (including the so-called 'mistakes' we regret in hindsight), then I think it's critical that we give happiness our concerted effort and attention.<br /><br />Those of us who have a deeper understanding and experience of happiness and its causes i.e. the nature of mind, can help others come to this key realization.<br /><br />Happiness (and there are several expressions of it ranging from quiet stillness to raucous excitement) is not the 'random' elusive thing that many people believe it to be simply because they do not understand what it is and how it 'happens'.<br /><br />Happiness is the natural state of mind that we can intentionally and methodically access with proven skills and tools, mindfulness and mental observation being some of them. <br /><br />When we more fully grasp the meaning and nature of happiness, we will be less likely to attribute it to the external effects of our thinking including the amount of money, qualifications and other acquisitions we have (or don't have) and which we preoccupy ourselves with.Thought Bubble Tenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13665668153611429559noreply@blogger.com